Ripper plow with combustion chamber in tip to effect fracturing of soil

ABSTRACT

A tractor drawn ripper for fracturing earth is provided in its tip with a combustion chamber which vents to both sides of the ripper tip. A passage in the ripper communicates with the chamber and intermittently supplies a combustible fuel mixture thereto from an outside source. A spark plug projects into the chamber and is adapted to fire the combustible fuel mixture to cause repetitive explosions which loosen the earth adjacent the ripper as the latter moves along and permits it to be more easily drawn through the earth.

United States Patent 1191 Codlin 1 51 Jan. 30, 1,973

[54] RIPPER PLOW WITH COMBUSTION CHAMBER IN TIP TO EFFECT FRACTURING OF SOIL [75] Inventor: James B. Codlin, Springfield, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis.

[22] Filed: Jan. 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 216,309

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 25, .Ian. 2, I970, abandoned.

[52] U.S.Cl. ..172/699,37/l,37/l93, 102/22, 299/13 [51] Int. Cl. ..AOlb 13/08 [58] Field of Search ..31/1, 18, l93; 172/40, 699;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,541,709 l 1/1970 Comer et al. .r37/l4l R l,7l7,9ll 6/l929 Brewer ..lll/7 3,461,577 8/1969 Clark 6! al ..37/18 3,574,404 4 1971 Hogan ....37/1s 3,600,116 8/1971 Clark et 31.1.... ....37/l8 3,605,918 9/1971 Bennett 175/45 3,619,917 11/1971 Fischer ..37/18 3,527,308 9 1970 Bernotas et al..... ....172 699 1,424,728 8/l922 Knight et al. ..111 6 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Bagwill Assistant Examiner-C. W. Hanor Attorney-Thomas F. Kirby et a].

[ ABSTRACT A tractor drawn ripper for fracturing earth is provided in its tip with a combustion chamber which vents to both sides of the ripper tip. A passage in the ripper communicates with the chamber and intermittently supplies a combustible fuel mixture thereto from an outside source. A spark plug projects into the chamber and is adapted to fire the combustible fuel mixture to cause repetitive explosions which loosen the earth adjacent the ripper as the latter moves along and permits it to be more easily drawn through the earth.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures TO IGNlTlON SYSTEM PAIENIEDJAII30 I973 3.713.496

IGNITION SYSTEM I M M I M I TO IGNITION SYSTEM 9: 194.

33 TO FUEL suppLY m RIPPER PLOW WITH COMBUSTION CHAMBER IN TIP TO EFFECT FRACTURING OF SOIL This is a continuation of Ser. No. 25, filed Jan. 2, 1970, and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to implements for fracturing earth. More particularly, it relates to rippers which penetrate the terrain and are drawn or otherwise moved therethrough by suitable traction means to cause fracturing and loosening of the soil.

2. Description of the Prior Art Conventional tractor drawn rippers require that a great deal of force be concentrated at the tip of the ripper shank in order to cause fracturing of the soil or other material being ripped. In effect, ripping is accomplished by brute force. It has been proposed to reduce the amount of force required by providing means which effect vibration of the ripper shank and contribute to fracturing of the material. However, this solution would impose unacceptable vibration levels on associated equipment which would need to be prevented by costly and cumbersome means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is provided an implement for dynamic fracturing of material such as earth which comprises a ripper having a shank and a tip. A chamber is provided in the ripper wherein bursts of expanding gas are produced at repetitive intervals as the ripper is moved through the material being ripped. Vent means are provided to discharge the expanding gas from the chamber and take the form of a pair of openings located on laterally opposite sides of the ripper tip from which the gas is expelled to fracture material adjacent thereto. Means are provided to produce bursts of expanding gas at repetitive intervals and comprise a passage in the ripper through which a combustible or explosive substance, such as a mixture of fuel and oxidant, is introduced periodically into the chamber from a suitable source. Means are also provided to ignite or explode the substance in the chamber at the said periodic intervals and such means comprise a spark plug. A passage is provided in the ripper for a conductor which connects the spark plug to an ignition system.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide improved implements for the dynamic fracturing of soil and other materials.

Another object is to provide improved rippers which employ explosive forces to assist in fracturing the material being ripped thereby allowing the ripper to make faster progress in the direction it is being moved with less expenditure of power and with fewer adverse effects on the ripper and associated equipment than is presently obtainable.

Another object is to provide an improved ripper having means whereby expanding gases from explosions are discharged through one or more openings or vents in the sides of a ripper shank near the tip to assist in fracturing the material through which the ripper moves.

Another object is to provide improved rippers of the aforesaid character wherein explosive forces and byproducts are repetitively produced and released as the ripper moves along.

Another object is to provide improved rippers which have higher production rates and lower maintainence and operating costs than conventional rippers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. I of the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a tractor which has a ripper assembly 11 suitably secured to the rear end thereof. Ripper assembly 11 comprises a rigid frame element 12 towhich are provided upper and lower arms 14 and 16 of a trapezoidal linkage. The arms 14 and 16 are pivotally connected to the ripper frame 20. A hydraulic cylinder 22 is pivotably secured to frame element 12 and its piston rod 24 is pivotably secured to lower arm 16. Ripper assembly 11 further comprises a ripper 26 in accordance with the invention which is removably mounted on the frame 20 and which is hereinafter more fully described. Cylinder 22 and piston rod 24 are understood to be adapted to lower and raise the ripper frame 20 to thereby move ripper 26 into or out of the soil or other material to be ripped.

As FIGS. 1 and 2 shows, ripper 26 comprises a shank 28 which terminates in a ripper tip 30. A replaceable ripper tooth 32 is secured to ripper tip 30 by suitable means, such as a pin 34, as FIG. I shows. The front portion of ripper 26 is also provided with a rigidly attached replaceable cutting edge 37, as FIG. 1 shows.

In accordance with the present invention, walls in shank 28 define a combustion chamber 36 near ripper tip 30, as FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show, and in which explosive forces and by-products are repetitively produced, as hereinafter explained. Chamber 36 is provided with means for venting the explosive by-products, such as rapidly expanding gases, and such means comprise vents, ports or exhaust openings 38 and 40 which are located at the opposite lateral sides of ripper tip 30. Preferably, chamber 36 is further provided with an access hole 41 which is used for manufacturing purposes and also for servicing the nozzle 44. Hole 41 is normally closed by a removable plug 42.

Chamber 36 is adapted to be supplied with a combustible explosion producing substance through a supply passage 43 located in and extending through shank 28 of ripper 26. Since chamber 36 is cut off from usable amounts of atmospheric oxygen when ripper 26 is in the ground, it is necessary that the explosion producing substance supplied thereto contain an explosive fuel, such as gasoline, and an oxidant necessary to effect an explosion when the mixture of fuel and oxidant is ignited. Preferably, passage 43 is provided with a suitable injection nozzle 44 at the point where the passage meets combustion chamber 36. Supply passage 43 is connected as by hose 33 to supply means 47 for the combustible substance which, for example, is carried on tractor 10. Supply means 47 is adapted to meter the correct amount of explosive substance to chamber 36 at preselected adjustable intervals. Preferably, passage 43 is provided with means such as a check valve 45 which prevents the effects and by-products of an explosion in chamber 36 from proceeding up the passage.

Means are provided to effect ignition and explosion of the substance supplied to chamber 36. Thus, for example, the rear side of tip 30 of ripper 26 is provided with a recess or cavity 46 in which an ignition device such as a conventional spark plug 48 is mounted. The electrodes of spark plug 48 project into chamber 36, or at least are exposed to the explosive substance therein, so as to effect ignition when the plug is fired or when the explosive substance is introduced into the chamber. Cavity 46 is closed by a removable protective plate 50 which is secured to ripper 26 by bolts 52. An ignition wire or conductor 54, suitably insulated, is connected to one of the electrodes of spark plug 48 and extends through a passage 56 in ripper 26 to a suitable ignition system 55 which, for example, is located on tractor and energizes the plug. It is to be understood that the other electrode of spark plug 48 is grounded to ripper 26 and that the latter is in electrical connection through various mechanical connections to the grounded side of ignition system 55. Ignition system 55 is adapted to effect firing of spark plug 48 as is necessary to produce the repetitive explosions in chamber 36.

The invention operates as follows. Assume that ripper 26 is disposed in material to be ripped, as shown at the right-hand side in FIG. 1, and is being drawn or moved leftward with respect to FIG. 1 by tractor 10. Further assume that while ripper 26 is at the righbhand position shown in FIG. 1, an appropriate amount of explosive substance is introduced into chamber 36 and is ignited by spark plug 48. The explosion which results in chamber 36 generates a burst of expanding gas or gases which are directed out of the chamber through the vents 38 and 40 with great force and cause fracturing of the material adjacent the vents and in the immediate vicinity of tip 30 of ripper 26. When the material is thus fractured, ripper 26 can more easily continue its leftward movement. When ripper 26 reaches another position, such as the position shown in phantom in FIG. 1, a suitable amount of explosive substance is again introduced into chamber 36 and ignited to provide another explosion which fractures the surrounding material. This procedure is repeated at desired intervals as ripper 26 moves along. The intervals between explosions are variable, as desired, in accordance with the nature of the material, the rate of travel desired, and other relevent factors.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as folows:

I. In combination,

a ripper adapted to penetrate to substantial depths and be surrounded by material through which it is moved,

said ripper having a downwardly extending shank with a replaceable tooth on its lower end,

walls in said ripper forming a chamber in the lower end of said shank rearwardly of said tooth with an exhaust opening at each of the two laterally opposite sides of said shank, and

means for producing explosions in said chamber at repetitive intervals causing discharge of rapidly expanding gas from said chamber through said openings to effect fracturing of material on laterally opposite sides of said ripper including a source of combustible substance,

a passage in said ripper communicating between said source and said chamber,

ignition means to effect combustion of said substance in said chamber, and

check valve means in said shank preventing expanding gases of combustion from proceeding through said passage from said chamber.

2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein said ignition means comprises a spark plug mounted in said shank with its igniting end in said chamber and further comprises an ignition system for firing said spark plug.

3. A combination according to claim 2 wherein said ripper comprises a passage for accommodating a con ductor connected between said spark plug and said ignition system.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said openings are aligned and equal in size so that lateral forces imposed on said ripper shank by said explosions are substantially balanced. 

1. In combination, a ripper adapted to penetrate to substantial depths and be surrounded by material through which it is moved, said ripper having a downwardly extending shank with a replaceable tooth on its lower end, walls in said ripper forming a chamber in the lower end of said shank rearwardly of said tooth with an exhaust opening at each of the two laterally opposite sides of said shank, and means for producing explosions in said chamber at repetitive intervals causing discharge of rapidly expanding gas from said chamber through said openings to effect fracturing of material on laterally opposite sides of said ripper including a source of combustible substance, a passage in said ripper communicating between said source and said chamber, ignition means to effect combustion of said substance in said chamber, and check valve means in said shank preventing expanding gases of combustion from proceeding through said passage from said chamber.
 1. In combination, a ripper adapted to penetrate to substantial depths and be surrounded by material through which it is moved, said ripper having a downwardly extending shank with a replaceable tooth on its lower end, walls in said ripper forming a chamber in the lower end of said shank rearwardly of said tooth with an exhaust opening at each of the two laterally opposite sides of said shank, and means for producing explosions in said chamber at repetitive intervals causing discharge of rapidly expanding gas from said chamber through said openings to effect fracturing of material on laterally opposite sides of said ripper including a source of combustible substance, a passage in said ripper communicating between said source and said chamber, ignition means to effect combustion of said substance in said chamber, and check valve means in said shank preventing expanding gases of combustion from proceeding through said passage from said chamber.
 2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein said ignition means comprises a spark plug mounted in said shank with its igniting end in said chamber and further comprises an ignition system for firing said spark plug.
 3. A combination according to claim 2 wherein said ripper comprises a passage for accommodating a conductor connected between said spark plug and said ignition system. 